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Disclaimer – I don't own.
Marie closed her eyes. She wanted the mean man to go away. She wanted one apple. Was that so much to ask?
"Oh, Chantel, dere y' are!" She heard a voice call. The boy's accent was thick and almost next to her. She felt the man's grip loosen on her wrist then let go. "Sorry, monsieur, but dis is mon sister. She always be runnin' off. She don' know de difference between right an' wrong. I promise y' dat dis won' happen 'gain." She felt someone's hand come into contact with hers. She swallowed and opened her eyes, looking at a boy a few years older than her. He pulled her away and she went with him, having no other option. She stared at him. He had copper-colored hair and dark brown eyes. He was a little taller than her and had a strong grip. She bit her lip. He stopped and let go of her. "Dat be mon good deed fo' de day. S', what be de lil' petite's name?" He looked at her expectantly. She didn't want to be called Marie anymore.
"Mah name is.. Rogue." She thought it was a nice name. She had been thinking of it while she was in the alley. He raised an eyebrow then shrugged. He held his hand out to her again.
"Mon name be Remy LeBeau." She put her hand in his hesitantly. "So, Chére, what be a Southern belle like y'self be doin' in dis part o' town? Not t' mention stealin' apples.." He stopped, seeing her glare at him.
"That's none o' ya're business." He held his hands up and gave her a startled look. "And don' call me that."
"What? Chére? But it suits y'." He smirked. It faded when she turned around and started walking away. "Y' have no place t' go, d' y'?" He saw her stop and she looked at him over her shoulder.
"No.." He felt a little bad for bringing it up at the expression on her face. "But Ah don' need one." She turned quickly away from him. Nothing was going to make it better. Nothing. He followed her at a distance and saw where she had been staying.
"Chére, y' need a place t' stay. I can find y' one." He really didn't know why he said that. If he didn't, he would have to live with a failure and a sad look on her face. She looked up at him, a look of distrust on her face. He stared at her. He would do what he said. Besides, if he got caught again for stealing something.. oh boy would he be in trouble.
"Ah said, don' call meh that." She gave him a small smile. He knew she accepted his help. After all, what would happen if she didn't? He gestured to her to follow him. She picked something up and stuffed it in a backpack. She put it on her shoulders and followed him out. They walked for a little while, not attracting much attention. She once had to jog to keep up with him. He then stopped in front of a house. It wasn't all that big, but it was enough to fit in a family. "Is this yo're house?"
"Oui." He nodded. She stared at it. She didn't want to go in, but she did. She shivered with a strange fear. What if they were like.. him? He looked down at her. A bruise was on her cheek. He hadn't really noticed it before. She turned her head and noticed him staring at her. "Where did y' get dat?" She didn't answer, but looked away from him.
"Ah.." She wasn't ready to tell him anything, which he understood. She looked uneasy. He took her hand and led her to the wooden porch. She was shaking with nervousness.
"Don' worry." He said. He opened the door and practically dragged her in. "Mom!" He continued to call out to people until he growled with frustration. "No one be home, mon ami. I wonder where dey all went.."
"Ah don' feel righ', Rem.." She looked around, half expecting someone to pop out at her. He led her to some stairs and they climbed. He went to the third room on the left.
"Don' worry, Chére. I know mon family will be acceptin' y'." She hesitantly sat on his bed. He climbed up next to her. "Want anythin'?" She shook her head; she was afraid to ask for anything to eat. "Are y' hungry?" Her stomach answered that question for her. "C'mon, I want somethin' too." He hopped off his bed and took her hand, guiding her out of the room and down the hall. He then led her into the kitchen. She hadn't seen a decently kept kitchen since she was at the orphanage.
"Woah." She felt his hand slip from hers and he opened the cupboard, after climbing on the counter of course. She watched him climb down then they both froze, hearing the door open and close.
"Mere!" He jumped down and raced out of the room. He had to show her his new friend. Rogue peeked out of the doorway and was a little shocked when the woman opened the door and peered down at her, inspecting her. Then the woman smiled.
"You must be who Remy is so excited about." She grabbed Rogue's hand and led her back into the kitchen. "What would you two like to eat?"
"Ah dunno." Rogue answered a little sheepishly. Remy came back in; carrying a bag or two from the store.
"Roguey has n' place t' stay, mere. Can she stay wit' us?" The two girls cringed when a loud bang was heard. The bag he had been holding broke and cans rolled across the tiled floor. Rogue picked one up and held it out to the woman in front of her. Remy's mother reached out and took it, picking up several others that happened to roll toward them.
"Well, I think we can arrange something. Maybe Irene can take you in." She appeared thoughtful. "On one condition. You have to tell me about this and the rest of them. Remy don't have to know and I promise that I'll take the secret to my grave, if you want." Rogue only nodded. She knew she had to tell the woman about that mean man she been forced to call her father.
-
Rogue had actually slept in a bed. She had actually ate until her stomach was full. She had had a bath. And she had cried when telling Mrs. LeBeau about what had happened to her. She knew that the experience would stay with her for the rest of her life.
-
Eight Years Later
Rogue banged her head on her desk. She sighed and wished that she could go home. HOME would be a wondrous place to be. She would be thrilled to be home. Irene would be waiting for her.. and she would welcome her home. She would even get to see Remy! He was out of school and she hardly ever had any time on her hands. She sighed. Algebra was such a boring class. She kept her head on the desk for the rest of the class. She thanked god that it was her last class. Throwing her books into her locker, she put her light coat on and walked out of the school. People had the tendency to shun her and whisper about her. She sighed. She could still remember being beaten by that freak of a 'father'. The fact was, that she was still recovering from that horrible experience. She tenderly touched her arm. She still had this one scar that wouldn't go away. That one time that she had stolen his dinner, he had gotten her with his steak knife. It was on her right arm. She always found a way to cover it up. She looked up when she heard someone shout to her. Her eyes widened. Remy grinned at her.
"Hey, Chére! Look here! Got mon self a bike." He revved the engine a couple times then held out a helmet. "Hop on." She took the helmet and settled it in place. She could feel people staring. She saw him move forward a little and got on behind him, putting her arms securely around his waist.
"Ya betta know how ta drive this thing!" She said, closing her eyes and leaning her head on his shoulder.
"I know, Chére." He took off. She snuggled up to him a little more, feeling a little scared at first. Then she eased up on her grip and enjoyed the rest of the ride. They pulled up in front of her house and she got off hesitantly. "Call me later?"
"Ya know it, Rem." He smirked and gave her that look that she had seen him give her so many times before. He brought his gloved hand to her face and she backed up a little. She gave him a small smile and turned around, almost running to the door. She opened it and closed it, sighing softly. Trust was a big deal for her, even though she knew she could trust Remy. She just had that sick feeling in her stomach every time a guy tried to get close with her. She had been evasive, even to Remy. Especially these last few days.
"Marie?" Rogue almost regretted telling Irene her real name.. She hated that name. She wanted to bury it, right along with her horrible past.
"Yeah. Ah'm home." She went upstairs and dropped onto her bed. School was exhausting. She heard the phone ring. She picked it up and called down that she got it. "Hello?" She blushed slightly, even though she didn't know why.
"Hey Roguey!" Remy's cheerful voice cut through her gloomy mood. "What y' doin'?"
"Lyin' on mah bed. Why?"
"Jus' wonderin'." She could almost see him grin. "Can I join y'?"
"Nah, Ah like mah space." She grinned. "But ya can come an' keep meh company." She heard a 'click' on the other end and sighed. "Five, four, three, two, one.." She heard a knock at her window and went over to it. She put her hands on her hips and stared at the Cajun expectantly. "Be normal and use the front door. Ya can't get in this way, remember? The paint sealed it shut." He sighed and pouted as he climbed down the ladder and disappeared from sight. She rolled her eyes and began the count down from five once more. He knocked really loudly on the front door. "Smart ass." He came up the stairs and smirked that normal smirk of his.
"Roguey be happy dat I be here, no?" She rolled her eyes.
"O' course, Rem. It wouldn't be the same without ya." He looked offended.
"Y' gonna pay fo' dat one." He tackled her, pushing her down onto the bed and tickling her. She laughed, squirming. Suddenly, he had hold of her arm and he was lifting up the sleeve more. "Rogue? I think y' better tell me what be goin' on." She swallowed the sudden lump in her throat. What was she going to say to him? He had seen the very thing she had wanted to hide from him. He then looked down and noticed scars on her pale legs. "Now would be de best time."
"Rem.. Ah.." She was scared. Scared to reveal the truth to the person she wanted to hide it from.
-
Dun dun dun dun! Don't throw rotten fruit at me.. or vegetables.. Oh.. Don't throw anything at all! *runs for cover*